A
purée (or
mash) is cooked food, usually
vegetables or
legumes, that has been ground, pressed,
blended or
sieved to the consistency of a soft creamy paste or thick liquid. Purées of specific foods are often known by specific names, e.g.,
mashed potatoes or
apple sauce. The term is of
French origin, where it meant in
Old French (13th century)
purified or
refined.